rglondon | Entries tagged with soho

This week's featured article is The Star and Garter, W1F 7NX. It's not trendy and it doesn't have a huge range of beers, but it's a comforting and cosy single room pub in Soho which has been very useful on many occasions.

Permanent closures reported this past week have been The City Retreat, a pub in Holborn, and Tadim Cafe in Camberwell.

Finally, the old Wargrave Arms at the edge of Marylebone has been renamed as The Lord Wargrave.

ewan

Lucky Seven, Stoke Newington, London N16

Happy New Year! This week's featured article is Lucky Seven, a second-hand bookshop and (mostly) record shop in Stoke Newington. I went there for the first time the other week having not even registered its existence before and it was filled with things from floor to ceiling, often precariously piled and stacked.

One temporary closure is Imperial War Museum, for six months.

Three reported permanent closures are, very sadly, Hoopers Bar, an excellent real ale-loving local in between Camberwell and East Dulwich; the Camberwell branch of Wing Tai; and the N1 Centre branch of Yo! Sushi (in Islington, that is). The last is the least sad, as I've ranked them on a sliding scale. Feel free to disagree with my ranking (unimportant as it is) in comments.

Also, Foote's Music has moved from Soho to Bloomsbury, so take note, music instrument fans.

In more positive news, a pub has reopened! In this case, The Wheatsheaf by Borough Market (no, not that one), meaning there are now two competing Wheatsheafs within a few steps of one another, ostensibly the SAME PUB (the first was opened when this pub closed for the Thameslink work and the management went around the corner to the Hop Exchange).

ewan

This week's featured article is Chuan Chuan Xiang, a takeaway shop attached to Baozi Inn, specialising in skewers and steamed buns. It is spicy and meaty, so be warned if you go!

We have only two new entries, because I've been failing to write up anywhere I've been recently. However, others have been, so we have The Shakespeare pub by the Barbican, and Reform Social and Grill in Marylebone, a hotel bar and restaurant which sounds decent, but perhaps (as is the way with hotel ventures) a tad overpriced.

ewan

Hello! Unusually this week the featured article is not a place but a category: the Good Beer Guide 2013. Every year on the release of this guide, Kake uploads the 2013 pub information, and as a result a number of new pages are created in RGL (which she and other contributors try to visit before the publication date).

It's worth pointing out that the new articles that have been added as a result do not represent all the new 2013 GBG pubs, just the ones which didn't already have a page on RGL.

The new articles which are not GBG-related are: Dost, an Indian street food restaurant in Uxbridge; Bookworm, a second-hand bookshop in Carshalton; Raizes, a Brazilian restaurant in Bethnal Green; and Cafe Z Bar, a greasy spoon cafe in Stoke Newington.

So, those new GBG articles:
* All Inn One in Forest Hill;
* The Angel in Hayes End;
* The Argyll Arms in Soho;
* The Barnsbury in, er, oh guess;
* The Beehive in Bedfont;
* The Black Lion in Essex's Epping.
* The Botanist in Kew;
* The Coal Hole on the Strand;
* The Elm Park Tavern in Brixton;
* The Forester in West Ealing;
* The Grenadier in Belgravia;
* The Greyhound in Keston;
* The Hare in Bethnal Green;
* Howl at the Moon in Hoxton;
* Noble Green Wines, an off licence (not a pub) in Hampton Hill;
* The Old Sergeant in Wandsworth;
* The Queen's Head in Downe;
* The Railway Hotel in West Wickham;
* The Rising Sun in Surrey's Epsom;
* The Sir Michael Balcon in Ealing;
* The Sun in Carshalton;
* The Sussex Arms in Twickenham;
* The Swan in Hammersmith;
* The Three Greyhounds in Soho;
* The Walnut Tree in Leytonstone; and
* The Windmill in Mitcham.

No closures reported this week.

katstevens

Morning RGL posse!

This week's featured article is the Sekforde Arms, EC1R 0HA, a cosy, old-school Young's pub in the backstreets of Clerkenwell. Last time I went there I ate a reasonably-priced lasange and blimey if it didn't hit the spot. Also one of the bar staff was wearing an enormous chocolate gold medal round her neck. APPROVED.

New to RGL are the Fox Inn in Keston and the George and Dragon in Downe, both located in the London Borough of Bromley, Home of Punk Rock. Hungry? Why not try Dirty Burger, a small but perfectly hygienic pop-up restaurant in Kentish Town? Or how about Chuan Chuan Xiang, a similarly-microscopic takeaway in Chinatown that does extremely spicy skewers?

There's a bumper crop of pub updates as Kake has been doing sterling work on the annual Good Beer Guide round-up: the Capitol and the Dartmouth Arms, both in Forest Hill; the George in the ~~nice~~ SE London Hayes; the Good Yarn and the Queen's Head in my old stomping ground of Uxbridge; and finally the Hut, the Crown and the Prince of Wales down the road in Hillingdon (a bit too far for my 18-year-old self to stomp to).

One closure to report: Soho Silks has metamorphosed from a silk shop (in Soho, funnily enough) into a dry cleaners.

katstevens

Hullo RGL crew!

It's time for another featured article, namely the Charles Dickens, SE1 0LH, a Good Beer Guide pub in Borough. Highlights include scampi and lovely scrumptious pints of mild!

We also have a trinity of new articles: Tommi's Burger Joint, W1U, a trendy burger place in Marylebone that doesn't appear to have a Ridiculous Queuing Policy^TM; Honest, W1F, another burger hangout which you may recall replaced the Soho branch of Palms of Goa. Finally there's the Cock Tavern, E8, a new brewpub bang in the middle of Mare St, which -- brace yourselves -- does not currently have burgers on the menu. Or indeed, anything else! (Early days, of course.)

Wailing/gnashing of teeth news: RGL-haunt Le Cassoulet, CR2 has abruptly shut! Sniff! Also for the chop: Geeta, NW6, Koreana, HA3, the Case Is Altered, HA3, Cafe Rajistan, E14 and Beaufoy Bar, SW11. Jolly locals' pub the Whitesmiths Arms, SE1 in Borough is also temporarily shut for a refurb (they'd better keep the awesome jukebox).

Zombie of the Week Award goes to the Bloated Mallard, TW11 which has reopened.

ewan

This week's featured article is Fat of the Land, W1G 9TR, a tapas bar in Marylebone, converted from an old Sam Smith's pub. It's been stripped out and made to look all fresh and shiny and new, and though it has a couple of taps for draught beer, it's not really a pub in any way anymore. The food is decent though.

One permanent closure is Palms of Goa, an Indian restaurant in Soho. As you will recall, there was some confusion about this a week or two ago. Well, I visited and it definitely has become a branch of Honest, the burger shop which started in Brixton Village. Lovely burgers, and not too busy for Soho given the quiet location.

A temporary closure (possibly, for refurbishment) is La Trompette, Michelin-starred fine dining in Chiswick.

However, reopening is The Great Harry, a Wetherspoon's pub in Woolwich. It was dramatically burnt out in the riots last August, but has now been refurbished and reopened again to the public.

katstevens

Morning RGL! Apologies for the slight lateness of this week's post, your correspondent was out investigating the beverages and attractions of E20 (verdict: AWESOME, reasonable-sized Olympic Park latte is £2.40).

This week's featured article is the Tin Goose, TW6 1AP, a surprisingly decent pub inside Heathrow Terminal 1. Last week you could see 38 buses from the pub's window, this week you can see PLANES. Best of all it opens at 5am!

New to the site is the excellently-named Saucy Sausage, a greasy spoon in Addiscombe with a decorative flair for ketchup sachet arrangement.

Closures: Patterson's, a posh-nosh restaurant in Mayfair is having a bit of a revamp and is 'closed until further notice', while Peaches House, a Caribbean takeaway in Walworth is consigned to the folder of RIP. However rising zombie-like from the grave is Manchurian Legends! Remember we said it was closed the other week? Well, even the best London-based review blogs can jump the gun sometimes. We're sorry, still-open Manchurian Legends!

katstevens

Hullo RGLers!

This week's featured article is the Clapton Hart, E5 8EG, a newly-refurbished Antic pub opposite Clapton Pond. As well as eight handpumps featuring plenty of local beers, you get a lovely view of all the 38 buses turning around at the end of their route!

There are three closures to report: Goldfish City, a Chinese restaurant in EC2; the Bloated Mallard pub in Teddington, and Manchurian Legends in Chinatown (now a Cantonese barbecue).

No new articles this week unfortunately - perhaps a pub or restaurant has just opened near you? Why not tell us about it in the comments and we'll put on our Investigating Hats and go check it out!

katstevens

Hullo RGL crew! I'm filling in for

ewan for a bit while he is off gallivanting (i.e. probably taking pictures of a pub somewhere).

Our featured article this week is La Cave, SE1 9QQ, a French/European resturant and wine bar squirreled away down by Southwark Cathedral.

New additions to RGL include 1) Whyteleafe Tavern, a locals' pub in the sunny paradise of Whytleafe (OK I admit I had to look up where that was, it's south of Croydon so nearer the Equator - it definitely looks sunny in the photo) and 2) SM Pinoy Foods, a Filipino supermarket in Croydon that sells all sorts of mad stuff like banana blossoms and LUNGS! Brilliant!

One permanent closure is reported: Lush, Portobello Road. We also have one mysterious potential closure - Palms of Goa (Meard St branch). Rumour has it that a new outlet of Honest Burger is to replace it! Perhaps it has already? If you're in the area, why not have a look for yourself and tell us about it in the comments?

ewan

Somers Town Coffee House, Somers Town, NW1

This week's featured article is the Somers Town Coffee House, NW1 1HS, which despite its name is a gastropub near Euston station. It's been refurbished since it was a French-themed pub.

There are four additions this week: The Clapton Hart pub in Lower Clapton, another fine Antic outpost; Shane's on Chatsworth, a restaurant not too far away; The North Pole, a self-described craft beer pub in Islington; and Tramlink Route 4, a new tram route on the Tramlink in south London using some extra double-tracking (but no new stations).

There's been an update to the stub entry for The Lord Palmerston, a Geronimo Inns gastropub in Dartmouth Park.

Five permanent closures have been reported: Ping Pong's branch on Goodge Street; the Texas Embassy Cantina by Trafalgar Square; Melati, a Malaysian restaurant in Soho; The Compass, a gastropub in Pentonville, at the end of Chapel Market (reopening as another gastropub called Hundred Crows Rising); and Langton's Bookshop in Twickenham.

Finally, confirmation that Morgan M has fully moved from its site in Holloway to Smithfield.

ewan

Today's featured article is Pitt Cue Co., W1F 7RB, a barbecued ribs specialist in Soho. Expect long queues, though I've found popping in for a takeaway pulled pork roll is an easy thing to do at lunchtime, and worthwhile for the meat-eaters out there.

There are several new pages. We have four new pubs: Catford Bridge Tavern (you can guess where); The Parcel Yard at King's Cross station; Sylvan Post in Forest Hill; and Tapping the Admiral, just by Kentish Town West.

There is also: Harry Ramsden's Express, fish and chips takeaway at Euston; a greasy spoon in Kennington, Parma Cafe; and another one in Walworth, Cafe Silam.

One temporary closure is The Ship and Shovell, a pub at Charing Cross.

There are two reported permanent closures: V.V. Rouleaux, a Sloane Square ribbon shop; and The Wenlock Arms in Hoxton.

ewan

A bit of a busier week this week, and possibly our first featured Wetherspoon's is the Gatehouse, N6 4BD. Being in Highgate, it's a rather upmarket outlet for this budget chain, and has long been in use as a pub.

New additions are: Pitt Cue Co., a bbq rib outlet in Soho; and Roti Masters, a Caribbean cafe in Croydon.

There's an update to the stub entry on North Nineteen, a Good Beer Guide pub in Upper Holloway, now with a full review. I liked it there!

There's one temporary closure for refurbishment, Toad's Mouth Too Cafe in Brockley.

There are also three permanent closures: The Rugby Inn, a pub in Twickenham; Rasa Samudra, an Indian fish restaurant in Fitzrovia (moving its operation to the sister restaurant in Mayfair); and Saf, a vegan raw food restaurant in Shoreditch.

ewan

This week's featured article is a pub in Soho, The Queen's Head, W1D 7HN, which has come under new management, and seems to be okay.

Notified closures are: Fitzgerald's, an Irish pub in Lower Clapton; Zorya, a bar/restaurant in Chalk Farm; and Nicolas, the Chiswick branch of this chain of wine shops.

Finally, Quilon, the Michelin-starred Indian restaurant, is temporarily closed.

ewan

This week's featured article is a cocktail bar down some steps in Fitzrovia, Bourne and Hollingsworth, W1T 1JF, which goes for an American Prohibition era style.

We have only additions this week, no closures: The Queen's Head, a pub in Soho; Spring Cafe, a greasy spoon in Camberwell; Sichuan, a Sichuanese restaurant in North Greenwich; and Edibles, a cafe/deli in Banstead.

ewan

Pollock's Toy Museum, Fitzrovia, London W1

This week's featured article is Pollock's Toy Museum, a museum of toys set in a couple of adjoining terraced houses in Fitzrovia, just off Tottenham Court Road.

We have one new addition: Browns of Brockley, a cafe and coffee bar in an area of London you can probably guess.

The entry for Loving Hut, a vegan Chinese restaurant in Edgware, has been updated.

The reported permanent closures are two pubs and two bars: The Brewery Tap in Wimbledon and The Glassy Junction in Southall; Jrink in Soho, and 1802 in Docklands.

ewan

There haven't been many changes over the last week, so I only have a very short update this week.

We have a new featured article, the name of which I have transcribed just as it is idiosyncratically shown on the restaurant itself: Bi Bim Bap SoHo, W1D 4DJ, a pleasant little Korean cafe/restaurant in Soho which focuses on the eponymous dish.

There's only one new article, which is The Forestdale Arms, a locals' pub in Forestdale, a large area of 60s-era council estates near Addington.

kake

Image © Ewan-M

This week's featured article is Royal Standard, CR0 1SS, a lovely little Fuller's pub in Croydon.

It has board games, a dart board, chairs with misericords, excellent pies, and a beer garden; and it's been one of my favourite pubs for quite some time.

The big news on RGL this week is the addition of the Good Beer Guide 2012 category, plus all the pubs in it that we didn't already have listed. 36 new pubs were added to RGL, 18 of them with proper writeups (having been visited by me and/or ewan in the two weeks between my advance copy of the GBG arriving and the official publication date). The other 18 are currently "stub" entries which mainly contain addresses, opening hours, and links to other people's reviews; we'll be filling these in as soon as possible.

Other recent additions to RGL include Okan, a Japanese restaurant in Brixton; Casa Morita, a Mexican taqueria in Brixton; and the Cow, a Geronimo pub in the exciting new postal district E20.

Reported closures are Bombay By Night in Hampton, Donzoko in Soho, and Taste Of India in Covent Garden.

kake

Image © Kake

This week's featured article is Silk Road, SE5 8TR, a Chinese restaurant in Camberwell offering food from Xinjiang, a province in the far northwest of China.

One of the characteristic dishes of Xinjiang is big-plate chicken (大盤雞), a stew of chicken and potatoes in a rich, savoury gravy. Silk Road's rendition is pretty good, but huge, so take lots of friends with you!

Recent additions to RGL include Bibimbap Soho, a Korean restaurant on Greek Street; and the Hoop and Grapes, a Nicholson's pub in Aldgate.

We've also updated several older pub writeups: the Old Wheatsheaf and Moon Under Water in Enfield; the King's Head and King's Ford in Chingford, and the Green Dragon in Croydon.

One reported closure: Noodle Oodle (previously Inn Noodle) on Oxford Street. Their Queensway branch remains open.